Stop Guessing, Start Pacing: Smarter Airbnb Pricing Strategies

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In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers (Head of Revenue Management at Freewyld Foundry) dives deep into one of the most misunderstood yet powerful concepts in STR revenue management: pacing.

Hosts constantly ask:

• Why do short-term rentals slash prices last minute while hotels and airlines often raise theirs?
• What KPIs actually matter when tracking pacing?
• When should you pace behind, with, or ahead of the market?

Using real-world examples, from Ibiza flights to Taylor Swift concerts, Jasper explains why STR operators can’t afford to blindly follow hotel or airline pricing models. He breaks down the Market Penetration Index (MPI) as the go-to KPI for forward occupancy, reveals how pickup trends should guide your pricing decisions, and shares exactly when it pays to undercut the market versus hold firm.

You’ll learn:

• The key differences between airline/hotel inventory and STR inventory
• Why most operators panic and drop rates too quickly
• How MPI uncovers whether you’re pacing behind, in line, or ahead
• Scenarios where “last man standing” pricing can win big
• Why seasonality and booking windows must shape your pricing targets

If you’ve ever struggled with last-minute discounts, inconsistent occupancy, or uncertainty about whether you’re pacing correctly, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to approach revenue management with confidence.

Takeaways:

• Treat pacing as a leading indicator of revenue performance, not an afterthought
• Use MPI + pickup together for smarter pricing decisions
• Sometimes pacing behind the market is the winning move
• Availability settings and timing can make or break your portfolio’s revenue

Keywords:

short-term rental, Airbnb pricing, pacing strategy, revenue management, occupancy rate, dynamic pricing, MPI, Freewyld, STR success, booking optimization

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